On Metal Pens And No Ink Windows

[adim]

Hi all,

 

I'm not entirely sure this discussion deserves a new topic, but I hope you will forgive me if you find it useless or inappropriate.

 

As I'm learning my way through the world of fountain pens, I like to read and learn from as many personal experiences as possible. Advertising could be deceiving, as can my own thoughts, if not well informed.

 

So, the point of the discussion is the following. I think I've settled my favourite pens to be Montblanc's 146 and 149, hence my starting of the discussion in this subforum. I currently own 4 x 146 pens and 2 x 149 pens, all in resin. Since I started my other thread on pens with ink windows, this is somewhat a partial complement to it.

 

Therefore, I would very much be interested to learn as many tips and personal experiences you guys and girls had with pens with no ink windows. What tips can you share? How can you determine an approximate ink level? How can you make sure you've filled the pen properly? Do you refill it when, say, you start using it after 1 month, because you forgot how much ink you have in it? It is a matter of personal preference and of habit, I'm sure and getting to really know your pen is key here.

 

Another part of the topic is about metal pens. And I'm referring to full metal Montblancs, such as the Geometry and the other Solitaires, some LEs, some SEs, some WEs. What are your tips and experiences with such pens when comparing them to the resin lineup? I know they are heavier, I assume they are well balanced, of course they have no ink window and are more sturdy. What else can you share about your experience with such pens? For example, have you heard of any corrosion or any kind of damaging reaction between some ink and the inside of the barrel or the section? This is something I'm especially curious to learn from those of you who've had a metal Montblanc for 5+ years, say.

 

I'm asking this because, on the one hand, I am tempted to buy such pens for myself and on the other, for the pleasure of sharing and learning from one another, which I consider to be the main

feature of any respectable discussion forum, such as this one.

 

EDIT: I should probably add that I'm mostly interested in modern pens, the Montblanc lineup in the last 10-20 years, say. But of course, all opinions and experiences are welcome.

Edited June 4, 2020 by adim

[Karmachanic]

Regarding no ink window. For me there are three methods.

• Write until dry.

• Depending upon usage, after an appropriate duration hold the pen nib up, and advance the piston until ink appears at the

base of the feed - refill. Assumes you'll continue with the same ink.

• Weigh the pen empty, note the weight. Weigh the pen filled, note the weight. Weigh occasionally to determine fill.

 

This method may work for you, it does for me. Hold the pen vertically; gently but quickly move the pen back and forth to feel the movement of ink. Once you become familiar you'll get a feel for how much ink is in the pen. When it 'feels" empty, weigh it.

 

I find it also helps to know how many pages I can write per fill.

Edited June 4, 2020 by Karmachanic

[OneRoad]

The short answer is: for the most part, I don’t care.

Almost all pens that I have, do not have an ink window. My MB Martele doesnt, and none of my pilot VPs have one. For most note taking, private stuff, etc, I simply use it until it’s empty. Then, if I have the time and leisure, I refill, if I dont, I reach for the next pen.

 

It’s a little different if I know that I take time critical notes, or if I write a special card that must look perfect, or if I take a pen on a business trip and don’t want to carry ink bottles. In that case I simply refill with the same ink before the occasion. Much like in school a long time ago, before writing an exam, I would always pop in a new cartridge regardless of fill level. Just to make sure I wont under any circumstances run out during the exam. Same thing with s piston filler: if in doubt, refill proactively.

Edited June 4, 2020 by OneRoad

[Matlock]

My most used pens are, 1. Pelikan M600, 2. MB 146, 3. Parker 51 Vacumatic. Two with windows and one without. The short answer is I don't even think about it, just write until the ink runs out.

[Orval]

No ink windows:

- refill periodically (each week, each day, depending of the use)

- write regularly, so don't let too much pens inked at the same time

- always keep a second pen ready to take over in case of.

 

Metal pens:

I don't have a metal Montblanc, only a plastic one.

My metal pens are not piston fillers, but cartridge/converter (Pilot VP, Diplomat aero, ST Dupont Fidelio, Cross Verve). Most of them feel sturdier than the plastic one's (no risk of cracking, staining). The weight is not a problem if the balance is good.

[adim]

Thanks for the replies so far!

 

I find it interesting that I never care about the ink levels in my ballpoints or rollerballs, all of which have no visible level of the ink but I feel I must see the ink in my fountain pens. It's probably about habit or I have to get my priorities straight (i.e. value comfort and overall feel and quality of the instrument rather than the ink level, given that most of them can be refilled in minutes if not seconds).

[fpupulin]

My method is writing until the ink runs out. Exception is, with pens without a window, when I want to do something calligraphic, in which case I just refill before writing.

 

I also refill if I am going to partecipate to a meeting with my pen, but this rarely happens, as I mostly use my pens at home. When traveling, I bring with me a bottle of ink, and I usually buy a couple more on the trip, so empting and refilling is not a problem.

 

Refilling a partially full pen requires that you know exactly what ink you have in which pen. I warmly encourage you at maintaining a “pens and inks” notebook, taking note of your refills. With a certain number of pens continuously inked, memory becomes labile...

 

The “pens and inks” notebook has also the great advantage to show you, in a sort of objective way, which pens/nibs you refill the most (so using the most), which inks you use more frequently, and which are your preferred combos of pen/ink in a given time.

I do own two metal pens and I just noted that they are unintentionally used less frequently than their plastic siblings. My preferred metallic are by far the old 146 Solitaires, which had an ink window. Pinstripe is to my eyes the more classic and timeless of them all, shortly followed by the grain d’orge.

Edited June 4, 2020 by fpupulin

[WLSpec]

My most used pens are, 1. Pelikan M600, 2. MB 146, 3. Parker 51 Vacumatic. Two with windows and one without. The short answer is I don't even think about it, just write until the ink runs out.

 

I feel the same way. Usually I just write the pen dry, and then either flush and put it away or refill.

 

Pens with converters/cartridges and no ink windows, though, I just uncrew the barrel and look at the converter to see ink level. I don't think I have any pens where the ink simply cannot be seen besides my P-51 Aero.

[max dog]

I rely on my ink windows. Like to check before going into a meeting or on a plane I have enough ink so I dont run out. I write a lot, so that is an important feature for me.

[sansenri]

regarding no ink window (and particularly for those pens that are not cartridge or CC and allow you to unscrew the barrel to see the ink level, so especially piston fillers, eyedroppers, etc. )

 

write until dry AND ALWAYS have a spare pen handy... (better if with same ink and similar nib)

I use this method for example when in meetings

[eciton]

Regarding no ink window. For me there are three methods.

• Write until dry.

• Depending upon usage, after an appropriate duration hold the pen nib up, and advance the piston until ink appears at the

base of the feed - refill. Assumes you'll continue with the same ink.

• Weigh the pen empty, note the weight. Weigh the pen filled, note the weight. Weigh occasionally to determine fill.

 

This method may work for you, it does for me. Hold the pen vertically; gently but quickly move the pen back and forth to feel the movement of ink. Once you become familiar you'll get a feel for how much ink is in the pen. When it 'feels" empty, weigh it.

 

I find it also helps to know how many pages I can write per fill.

 

I more or less do this too.

 

I always have multiple pens with me, so if my Homer, Geometry, Martele or other MB I have with me runs out, I put it back in the case and get another pen out.

 

If I am procrastinating in my home office, I'll tend to do the 'piston advance' trick and see roughly how full the pen feels. If it's running low, I'll refill or flush and refill.

 

I have found that Montblancs have generally decent ink capacity and do not evaporate dry like some of my other pens, so I rarely run dry unexpectedly even without an ink window.

[max dog]

regarding no ink window (and particularly for those pens that are not cartridge or CC and allow you to unscrew the barrel to see the ink level, so especially piston fillers, eyedroppers, etc. )

 

write until dry AND ALWAYS have a spare pen handy... (better if with same ink and similar nib)

I use this method for example when in meetings

LOL, like drive until you run out of gas, and have a moped in the trunk.

[zaddick]

Think of it this way - not having an ink window means you have a perfect reason to carry multiple pens. If you don't have multiple, suitable pens you have a reason to buy more.

 

See how helpful answers on this site can lead to more pens?

[sansenri]

LOL, like drive until you run out of gas, and have a moped in the trunk.

exactly and it works

there is just a short hesitation when it stops writing, and you reach for the other pen in your pocket...

[Matlock]

exactly and it works

there is just a short hesitation when it stops writing, and you reach for the other pen in your pocket...

 

True, the large number of people who use pens with no ink window proves that point. I used a Parker 51 for very many years (and still use it quite a bit) and never even thought about the ink running out.

[adim]

Thank you all for the contributions here! I guess it is a thing of habit then, I must get myself a pen with no ink window and "practice" breaking the habit of checking for the ink level and just write.